The Russians in Eusec Somalia, it is not, yet, quite concluded…
(BRUSSELS2) The Russians could take part in the training of Somali soldiers in Djibouti, announced Bernard Kouchner triumphantly in front of the rostrum of the National Assembly on 7 October (see here), which was aimed at a bilateral agreement with Russia (much like for Eufor Chad) (1). Apparently, it's not really decided. Quite simply. Because nothing has been concretely asked of the Russians. « It's mostly Bernard's idea. ! (Kouchner) ”says someone close to the file. According to a diplomat present in Moscow, the discussion between Bernard
Kouchner and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, was quite general. In response to the French request, the Russian Minister would have simply affirmed his availability to study any proposal that France could send him as soon as there was a specific request, a letter. But, nothing more. Lavrov even winnowed his French counterpart a little about the rules for delivering weapons. Bernard Kouchner would have, in fact, suggested that the Russians could supply arms because the French could not, because of the different export rules. "You know. We have the same rules as you" Lavrov would then have retorted, not without irony. It is therefore understandable that, questioned by the journalists during the trip to the Seychelles, the French Minister of Defense, Hervé Morin, was rather (very) cautious: " I had the feeling that Russia was quite open to the question ". We have known more enthusiastic! On the other hand, the Russians are very tempted to regain "footage" in one way or another with the Somali government which has been one of their key players in Africa (with Ethiopia, or rather alternately) . Read also: the Mission Eusec Somalia takes shape
(1) Bernard Kouchner and Hervé Morin had discussions, during the session of the Franco-Russian Cooperation Council on Security Issues (CCQS), with their respective counterparts, Sergei Lavrov (foreign affairs) and Anatoly Serkiukov (defense), as well as with President Dmitry Medvedev. Conversations which had focused, according to the Quai d'Orsay, on Russian involvement in various EU operations (Eufor Chad and Somalia), and on Iranian nuclear power, as well as on the Middle East, Afghanistan and North Korea.
